God’s Word Translation
Joshua 9:6
6They came to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal. They told Joshua and the men of Israel, “We have come from a distant country. Make a treaty with us right now.”
Joshua 9:6 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We be come from a far country: now therefore make ye a league with us.
- New International Version (NIV)Then they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the Israelites, “We have come from a distant country; make a treaty with us.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)And they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and to the men of Israel, "We have come from a distant country, so now make a covenant with us."
- New King James Version (NKJV)And they went to Joshua, to the camp at Gilgal, and said to him and to the men of Israel, “We have come from a far country; now therefore, make a covenant with us.”
Context of Joshua 9:6
4they devised a scheme. They posed as messengers. They took worn-out sacks on their donkeys. Their wineskins were old, split, and patched. 5Their sandals were worn-out and repaired, and their clothes were tattered. All their bread was dried out and crumbling. They came to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal. They told Joshua and the men of Israel, “We have come from a distant country. Make a treaty with us right now.” 7The men of Israel said to the Hivites, “What if you’re living in this area? We wouldn’t be able to make a treaty with you.” 8They responded to Joshua, “We’re at your mercy.” Joshua asked them, “Who are you, and where did you come from?”
Read all of Joshua 9Joshua 9:6 word by word
וַיֵּלְכ֧וּ אֶל־יְהוֹשֻׁ֛עַ אֶל־הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֖ה הַגִּלְגָּ֑ל וַיֹּאמְר֨וּ אֵלָ֜יו וְאֶל־אִ֣ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל מֵאֶ֤רֶץ רְחוֹקָה֙ בָּ֔אנוּ וְעַתָּ֖ה כִּרְתוּ־לָ֥נוּ בְרִֽית׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And they wentיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
- to Joshuaיְהוֹשׁוּעַyehôshûa‛ yehôshûa‛ · JoshuaH3091
- unto the campמַחֲנֶהmachăneh · campH4264
- at Gilgalגִּלְגָּלgilgâl · GilgalH1537
- and saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- unto him, and to the menאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
- of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- We be comeבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- from a farרָחֹקrâchôq râchôq · distantH7350
- countryאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
- now therefore makeכָּרַתkârath · to cut: make(covenant)H3772
- ye a leagueבְּרִיתberîyth · covenantH1285
Cross-references for Joshua 9:6
- Joshua 5:10The people of Israel camped at Gilgal in the Jericho plain. There they celebrated the Passover on the evening of the fourteenth day of the month.
- Joshua 10:43Then Joshua and all Israel returned to the camp at Gilgal.
- Joshua 9:9They answered him, “We came from a country very far away because the Lord your God has become famous. We heard stories about him and everything he did in Egypt.
- Deuteronomy 20:11If they accept it and open ⌞their gates⌟ to you, then all the people there will be made to do forced labor and serve you.
- 1 Kings 8:41“People will hear about your great name, mighty hand, and powerful arm. So when people who are not Israelites come from distant countries because of your name
- 2 Kings 20:14Then the prophet Isaiah came to King Hezekiah and asked, “What did these men say? And where did they come from?” Hezekiah answered, “They came to me from the distant country of Babylon.”
- Deuteronomy 29:12You are ready to accept the terms and conditions of the promise that the Lord your God is giving you today.
Commentaries on Joshua 9:6
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6Make ye a league with us - ברית לנו כרתו kirethu lanu berith, cut, or divide, the covenant sacrifice with us. From this it appears that heathenism at this time had its sacrifices, and covenants were ratified by sacrificing to and invoking the objects of their adoration.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6Camp at Gilgal - While Joshua was engaged in more distant enterprises, the women, children, and property of the Israelites were left with a sufficient guard at this place, where they had been established immediately after crossing the Jordan Joshua 5:9.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 3-13Verses 3-13 Other people heard these tidings, and were driven thereby to make war upon Israel; but the Gibeonites were led to make peace with them. Thus the discovery of the glory and the grace of God in the gospel, is to some a savour of life unto life, but to others a savour of death unto death, 2Co 2:16. The same sun softens wax and hardens clay. The falsehood of the Gibeonites cannot be justified. We must not do evil that good may themselves to the…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4-6At that time, traveling long distances was difficult, dirty, and dangerous. To succeed in their trick, the Gibeonites needed their supplies, clothes, and food to appear convincing.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3-153-15. when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard--This town, as its name imports, was situated on a rocky eminence, about six miles northwest from Jerusalem, where the modern village of El Jib now stands. It was the capital of the Hivites, and a large important city (Jos 10:2). It seems to have formed, in union with a few other towns in the neighborhood, a free independent state (Jos 9:17) and to have enjoyed a republican government (Jos 9:11).Read the comment
Topics related to Joshua 9:6
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Joshua 9
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries